Street Soccer: A new £1m charity partnership

Aberdeen Group Charitable Trust is pleased to announce a new £1m Initiatives partnership with the charity Street Soccer. The partnership will help to develop Street Soccer’s holistic employability programme working with adults 25+ facing multiple and complex barriers. 

Helping the most at risk and socially disadvantaged people across Scotland and London to secure and sustain good jobs requires a multi-layered approach. ‘Street Soccer’s Pathways Project’ is a holistic employability programme, focusing on all the emotional, educational and practical elements of peoples’ lives which create barriers to employment. Working with players to build their confidence and skills, it aims to make a working future a reality for adults who initially feel a long way from being ready to find and hold down a job. 

The project will engage players via football drop-ins, provide 1-1 support and access to education and training. Bespoke, person-centred support will be provided by Street Soccer’s workers.  This could include for example support with legal documents and form filling for refugees or financial support with appropriate clothing or qualifications and mentoring into new roles. Players with additional needs could receive more hours of emotional support, focusing on volunteering opportunities first and help to adapt to new routines. Support (mental health and wellbeing, emotional, mentoring, budgeting, clothing) will not end once someone achieves employment but will continue to ensure sustainability. 

Working with adults across the central belt of Scotland, Edinburgh and London, with the Trust’s support the aim is to reach over 1,000 people in a three-year period. 

The project will also fund Academy Programmes, running educational courses and workshops all led by the participants’ needs. This includes running trauma-informed workshops based on specific groups’ needs Street Soccer level 4 and 5 SCQFs, external qualifications (e.g. FA coaching, forklift licence) and exposure to a variety of career options  through talks and visits, all flexible and never one-size-fits-all.

Kirsty Brownlie, Head of the Aberdeen Group Charitable Trust, said:

“While there are a wide range of employability programmes available, relatively few are designed specifically for people over 25 — despite many in this group facing persistent and complex barriers to work. UK unemployment currently sits at around 5%, with around 1.8 million people out of work. 

“For this funding round, we were particularly keen to support organisations responding to this need. Street Soccer stood out for its person-centred approach, where players shape their own journey, the pace of their progress, and the level of support they receive.

“Its strong community ethos and ability to create a safe, inclusive space are what truly set it apart. This provides the foundation for players to build confidence, develop new skills, and begin to break down the multiple barriers they face.

“Street Soccer understands what it takes not just to help people into work, but to support them to stay in meaningful employment. We’re proud to play a part in supporting this work, helping individuals progress into meaningful employment and contributing to positive change in their communities.”

David Duke, CEO and Founder of Street Soccer said:

“We are delighted to be working alongside the Trust in this exciting expansion of our work supporting players on their journey to hope and happiness. The Pathways Project and the investment Aberdeen Group Charitable Trust are making will support our strategic focus on developing our ‘off pitch’ support, providing education and training, dedicated 1-1 support, and opportunities to progress into paid sessional work. 

“We know that lasting positive change is possible with the right team behind you. This partnership will unlock the potential within our players, in our team and in communities.”